Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund Notice of Funding Opportunity (Latvia)

Description

The U.S. Department of State’s U.S. Embassy Riga announces an open competition for exchange program participants (“alumni”) of U.S. government-funded and U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs to submit applications for the 2026 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2026). This fund supports projects that strengthen the U.S.-Latvia partnership and advance shared priorities including national security, economic prosperity, and democratic values. In recognition of America's 250th anniversary (Freedom 250), the program seeks projects that celebrate this milestone and the enduring values that unite our nations. Projects should reach and benefit the Latvian public, with eligible applicants being alumni who have participated in U.S. government-funded or U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs. Successful proposals will address one or more of the following priority areas: national security, economic growth and entrepreneurship, fair trade, alliance building, freedom of speech, transatlantic cooperation, and secure borders. Projects should demonstrate tangible benefits to citizens of both Latvia and the United States. This program advances U.S. foreign policy by deepening bilateral ties with Latvia, a key NATO ally and democratic partner. By empowering exchange alumni to lead initiatives, the program strengthens people-to-people connections, promotes shared values, and builds a more resilient transatlantic partnership. B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION Announcement posted: April 13 2026. Closing date for applications: May 4, 2026. Funding type: Grant or Fixed Amount Award. Decision date: no later than June 30, 2026. Project start date: no earlier than September 30, 2026. Expected size of individual awards: Between $5,000 to $35,000. Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed by September 30, 2027. C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION 1. 1. Eligible Applicants The following organizations are eligible to apply: · Applicants must be alumni of a U.S. government-funded or sponsored exchange programs (https://alumni.state.gov/list-exchange-programs) or a U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs (https://j1visa.state.gov/). · Project teams must include teams of at least two (2) alumni. · Alumni who are U.S. citizens may not submit proposals, but U.S. citizen alumni may participate as team members in a project (not in a lead position). Team must have at least two non-U.S. citizen exchange program alumni. · Alumni teams are encouraged to be comprised of alumni from different exchange programs and different countries. · Applications must be submitted by exchange alumni (individually or from non-governmental organizations they represent) or alumni associations. For-profit and academic institutions are not eligible to apply in the name of the organization but can serve as partners for implementing project activities. For-profit entities, even those that may fall into the categories listed above, are not eligible to apply for this NOFO. Organizations may sub-contract with other entities, but only one, non-profit, non-governmental entity can be the prime recipient of the award. When sub-contracting with other entities, the responsibilities of each entity must be clearly defined in the proposal. For more information on the difference between sub-contract and sub-recipient, please refer to 2 CFR 200.331. 2. Cost Sharing Inclusion of cost share is not a requirement of this opportunity, but it is encouraged. Examples include in-kind support (services, labor, supplies/equipment, or volunteers), a business contributing food, an organization offering a venue at a discount or free of charge, an NGO sponsoring an activity, an expert donating time to facilitate a seminar, etc. 3. Grant Program Area: The U.S. Embassy Riga recognizes that exchange program alumni represent a vital network of leaders who can strengthen the U.S.-Latvian partnership. However, not all alumni have the resources and support to translate their exchange experience into sustained impact. The Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2026) addresses this gap by providing seed funding for alumni-led projects that strengthen U.S.-Latvia ties and advance shared democratic values. In 2026, as the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, this program seeks to deepen the U.S.-Latvia partnership by empowering alumni to lead projects that reflect our shared values and demonstrate the enduring benefits of transatlantic cooperation. This NOFO advances U.S. foreign policy by strengthening bilateral relations with a key NATO ally, promoting democratic values, and building resilient people-to-people connections that support regional security and prosperity. We encourage all interested parties to contact Embassy representatives to discuss and consult on their project ideas. Project Audience(s): The primary beneficiaries of AEIF 2026 projects are members of the Latvian public, with the following characteristics: Geographic Location: Residents of Latvia, with particular emphasis on reaching communities outside the capital city of Riga to ensure broad geographic impact across urban and rural areas. Age Group: Youth and young professionals (ages 18-35) who represent the next generation of leaders and can benefit from exposure to entrepreneurship, transatlantic cooperation and democratic values. Professional Background: Entrepreneurs, educators, journalists, and other professionals working in sectors aligned with program priorities such as economic development, border security, civic engagement, and other fields. Project Goal: Strengthen U.S.-Latvia bilateral relations and advance shared democratic values by empowering exchange program alumni to lead projects that reinforce the U.S.-Latvia alliance, promote American values, and build lasting people-to-people partnerships that directly benefit the United States and support regional stability. Project Objectives: Objective 1: Support at least 2 alumni-led projects that address priority areas including national security, economic growth, democratic governance, or cultural exchange, with each project reaching a minimum of 100 direct beneficiaries and demonstrating measurable audience impact within 12 months of project completion. Objective 2: Increase public awareness of U.S.-Latvia partnership achievements and America's 250th anniversary (Freedom 250) among at least 1,000 people in Latvia through alumni-led programming. Note: Substantial involvement of the recipient and the Embassy will be determined on a case-by-cases basis when creating Award provision 4. Other Eligibility Requirements All organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) issued via SAM.gov as well as a valid registration in SAM.gov. Please see Section E.3 for more information. Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov. Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding under this funding opportunity. . D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION APPLICATION CONTENTS AND FORMAT Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible. Proposals that do not address the theme as outlined in the program objectives will be deemed ineligible. All project activities must take place outside of the United States and its territories. Projects that include activities happening in Latvia will be prioritized. Content of Application Please ensure: ● The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity ● All documents are in English ● All budgets are in U.S. dollars ● All applicant authorized signatures are provided where indicated on the various required forms. The following documents are required: 1. Mandatory application forms ● SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) or SF-424-I (Application for Federal Assistance --individuals) on Embassy website. ● SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) on Embassy website. ● SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) on Embassy website. (note: the SF-424B is only required for individuals, organizations exempt from registration, and for organizations not required to fully register in SAM.gov) 2. Proposal (12 pages maximum) The proposal should contain sufficient information so that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You should use AEIF 2026 Proposal form. 2026 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund Proposal Form (Word document): · Summary Page: Cover sheet stating the applicant’s name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program. · Proposal: The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below. · Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives and anticipated impact. · Introduction to the Organization or Individual applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the U.S. Embassy and/or U.S. government agencies. · Problem Statement: Clear, concise and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed. · Program Goals and Objectives: The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable a

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